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Needing Advice

FM Former Member
I recently (3 months ago) opened up a small 48 seat BBQ joint in the middle of "NoWhereVille", Alabama. There is only one other restaraunt that we are in direct competition with. They have been around for about 5 years, your typical grille that specializes in fried catfish, and they do a good amount of business.

Since the local high school let out for summer over a month ago, our business has been terrible. I'm not sure if this is coincidence or not, but we were at least making ends meet over the first two months. We have a tremendously low overhead now, but are still not able to come close to breaking even.

We have been advertising on the local radio station and have not yet had a single complaint about the food, but have had several "this is the best X that I have ever eaten".

I was wondering if anyone here overcome a similar situation and what you did to help draw in those customers and keep them.

It is just a little dis-heartening when your restaurant is empty and you drive one mile to the "other place in town" and they are full, especially when you know your food is as good and in many cases better.

I expected it to take some time to build a customer base, but the current totals are well below my expectations.

I was trying to get this thing started on a fairly small budget, and the way we are going through money over the last month, I don't know if we will make it through summer. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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R ribdogMember
Have you considered "buy one get one free" deal or maybe an "all you can eat" on a certain night. Maybe a buy one get one 50% off. Your revenues will be lower for a while until you build a following but do what you gotta do. It is a crowd mentality with restaurants. If someone drives by and there are no cars, you are in trouble. But if there are lots of cars, BINGO!

Hang in there.

John
FM Former Member
I've tried it, didn't seem to have an effect. I had two for tuesday for 6 weeks, where you buy a sandwich, get one free. I ran a rib special on certain days where we basically gave them away. I had kids eat free day.

Nothing seemed to consistently work. Sure, some days we did a little business, but I am certain that it was coincidental looking at the overall numbers.

Of course, being open only a few months, I am still wondering whether these programs have had enough time to take hold and drive traffic.
T tomMember
Maybe try to work a cater for local auto,truck,tractor dealers.

If the town has a manufacturung plant,try a cater for a meeting there.


For the public,they probably do hotdogs,but for the employees' holidays or special occasions they may splurge.

Cook at the kitchen and deliver/serve at the dealers.

Let the local service clubs meet at your place,during down hrs,and offer them a small buffet?[and try to break even]

If you're open Sundays ,offer anyone with that day's church bulletin 25% off lunch.

Alabama likes church,eats out after church,likes bbq.

If the town has a good/well supported kids' summer baseball team,offer a free kid's meal to all that have a parent with them .

Maybe print up some small "one free bbq sandwich"
coupons and give one or two out to each person you trade with.

You can probably make enough selling them a fountain drink.

Make it for your slow day or, limit it over a two week period.

Your gasoline,drycleaner ,barber,hardware,food product,mechanic,cop,postman,firechief,drugstore,all the people that you talk to anyway.

If your church has a fundraiser,see about having them presell bbq meals and you deliver to the event.

I've operated c stores with food in small towns around the south and these are things we try.

Some of them work.
FM Former Member
You don't want to look like you're begging for business. You want a crowd gathered at your restaurant so it looks real busy. Ask friends to drive by for a visit around 10:30 AM. Offer a free drink (low cost) with a meal as a special. Feed little leaguers, or girl scouts, etc. on a certain day at a reduced rate. I would approach the FFA or the 4H clubs, if you have that in your area, or one of the other groups about having a lunch or dinner for them. The parents have to drive them there, so you get the traffic. They could use you for a meeting place. Maybe, once a month or so.

The small budget can be a blessing. We're in the same "small budget" category. I wish you well. We are working a farmers' market. Some weeks we do really great, then it falls to nothing, then picks up, then falls off. But, I've found that people miss us when we're not there. We're developing a small following.

Another thing you might consider if you haven't already. Check out the local chamber of commerce. It might lead to more contacts for catering or customers.

Peggy
FM Former Member
Location-Location-Location......use some small real estate type signs all around major traffic intersections near your place about 2 miles to 1/2 mile. Plastic core material and a wire frame pre-printed for about $3.00 each you can usually buy 25 signs in volume and start driving traffic to your from the best locations to your location which may not be the best. Put them neart a post where the lawn mowers won't run them over. You will lose a few now and then but it works like a small billboard 24/7.

Make it simple with a big letter message...

BAR B QUE
IT'S WORTH THE DRIVE

100 EAST USA COUNTY ROAD
FM Former Member
PuttersPit,
We are located in Tallapoosa County in a small town called New Site. Business is slow around here because of several reasons. Mainly, there is no draw here during summer. Everyone goes somewhere else. It wouldn't be so bad, but this is our first summer and we had no idea what to expect.

I have thought of most of these ideas that everyone has thrown out, and I am glad to see that someone with experience had some of the same ideas. I am certain that some of them will help. I appreciate the information and advice.

I am trying to get some of them into action this week.
FM Former Member
I like the sign idea.
Who are the major employers in the area? Or do most of the people work out of town? If you could figure out where they work, you could put out flyers letting them know that you have bbq available for takeout for when they're just too tired to cook dinner, or to feed the family gathering on the weekend.
Peggy
FM Former Member
is that anywhere near tallapoosa ga?
when we opened our place 2.5 years ago, we had the same frets. it took us about 6 months to start rolling. all of the ideas above are great, and i will add a couple more. however, the key is not to rely on any singular advertising, but to hit everything you can. flyers on car windows at the grocery store, thousands of door to door flyers, newspaper coupons, take samples to local businesses, (especially car dealerships!)
local television interview is very important. trade airtime for catering t.v. station's monthly sales meeting.
bbq is something folks will travel for. if its the taste their buds are craving, they will be back. create a regular customer rewards system. all you need is a guest book and some business cards. offer ten percent off if they bring you a new customer. write it all down to prevent scam, plus its tax deductible.
we tried most of these and more. all helped, but the combination is the key. plus, always, when your customers are leaving say to them "spread the word" and "yall come back" or " see ya tomorrow for lunch"
good luck

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